Arsenal to Axe Seven as Wenger Plans Mass Clear-Out to Fund Moves for New Additions

Though Arsenal have successfully fought their way out of a dark corner with a succession of top displays that have seen their season turned around in dramatic fashion, with eight wins from their last nine games, Arsene Wenger is still looking to trim his squad of players he feels offer little to his hopes of ending a lean period of form over the past few seasons.

The Gunners boss is hoping to bring in some much needed quality to his squad and is ready to help finance moves for new additions by selling a number of players this summer. Either he will look to cash in on players value or merely look to balance the books by removing high-earners from the payroll.

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker is almost certain to have played his last game for the club.

The German international is already out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury – and now the Gunners are set to sell him in the summer.

Mertesacker, 27, was a £10million signing from Werder Bremen last August, soon after Arsenal’s humiliating 8-2 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

He signed a four-year deal but his lack of pace has been a major concern for boss Arsene Wenger, who has decided to allow him to move on after just 27 first team appearances.

The German international has looked cumbersome this term and it’s no coincidence that Arsenal’s form has turned a corner since he was sidelined. Laurent Koscielny and Thomas Vermaelen have developed a great understanding and are now Wenger’s first choice pairing so as such it wouldn’t be a big surprise if the North London club tried to sell the 27 year old, but would they get anywhere near the £10m they invested in the big defender?